RE-2 board fails to select new member

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LAMARâ Two candidates were interviewed for the open position for Director District B for the Lamar School Board.

Gail Schroeder and Mary Frances Forney were interviewed by the Re-2 board of education at Monday night’s meeting. After both candidates were interviewed, the board voted on the issue during new business.

The first candidate to be interviewed was Gail Schroeder who was recently on the board for Director District B. In the November election, Christa Melgoza was the top vote getter and as such was elected to the school board. Melgoza recently moved out of District B and had to leave her seat on the board.

Schroeder was asked what she thought the strengths and weaknesses were for the district. She commented that changing to grade level schools was “an excellent move,” anda definite strength. She also commented on improving the dropout issue and said she strongly believes in differentiated instruction for the students.

She was also asked how she thought the board should move regarding the legislature. Schroeder said that knowing the congressmen is a place to start. She said they “need to hear from you.” She was also asked about her thoughts on the academic advisor positions and the 5th year program. She commented that the advisors are “a great idea.” She talked about making sure the kids know “we care.”

The next candidate to be interviewed was Mary Frances Forney. Being new to the process, the board asked Forney for some background information, including her experience in the field of education.

Forney said she had always been interested in the education process and she got her start as a remedial teacher. She has a counseling degree, with 33 years experience. She has taught French in high school and is now semi-retired, working part-time in tax season with an accounting firm.

She was asked if she had the time to donate to the board and she said that yes, she did have the time to give to be on the school board. She said she was approached to be on the school board and decided to apply.

A board member asked her what her thoughts were on the legislative process. She said she thought the process is “a challenge.” “We have to promote small schools and be in the forefront.” She continued by saying they need to let them (legislators) know what the needs are.

She was also asked what she thought the strengths and weaknesses were for the district. She commented on the great staff that Lamar Re-2 has and she said they are great people who want to succeed with the students.

She also said she has been a proponent of grade level schools and was relieved when it passed. Forney was on the committee years ago trying to get grade level schools into Lamar Re-2.

She complimented the board for looking at and trying new ideas.

She said as far as weaknesses go, they need to work on completion for the students. Forney was also asked about the academic advisor positions. Forney said she is a “little hesitant about it.” She wanted to know where the board was with that process. She said her issue with it was not about the advisors having degrees but having “specific issue training.”

Dr. Graybeal said there would be training for the advisors and board president Ron Peterson told Forney the issue of the academic advisors was on the evening’s agenda to approve applicants for the positions.

Going into new business, the board approved the consent agenda and moved on to appoint one of the candidates for the seat of Director District B, who would serve until the next biennial school board election in November, 2009.

Board Vice President Rod Schwartz made a motion to approve Gail Schroeder as Director for District B. Clara Bradburn seconded the motion.

A roll call was given with Clara Bradburn voting yes, Connie Brase voting no, Ron Peterson voting yes, Rod Schwartz voting yes, Tim Wheaton voting no and Liz Whitham voting no, resulting in a tie. Rod Schwartz moved to go into an executive session. No second was given and a discussion ensued on whether they could go into an executive session. An audience member commented to the board that if the board goes into an executive session to discuss the candidates as a personnel matter, under Colorado open meeting laws, the candidates must be given the option to have that meeting in a closed or open meeting. The board president and superintendent of schools both immediately responded it was not a personnel matter. Board Secretary Tim Wheaton responded that his issue was not whether it was a personnel matter, but if it was legal.

Superintendent Dr. Wayne Graybeal looked up the statute and found it was neither a personnel or executive session matter. The motion died. No other motion was made on the issue for Director District B.

Under Colorado state law (C.R.S. 22-31-129) when there is a vacancy on a school board, the position must be filled within 60 days of the announced vacancy. If the position is not filled within 60 days, the school board president shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

In a discussion with Dr. Graybeal Tuesday morning, he said the district is going to continue seeking applicants for Director District B since the motion failed. He also said candidate Mary Frances Forney withdrew her application.

In a follow-up discussion with The Lamar Ledger, Forney confirmed that she had withdrawn her application to be on the Lamar school board.

“I couldn’t see it going anywhere,” said Forney. “From the writing on the wall, Ronnie (school board president) would be the tie breaker vote,” commented the former applicant.

With the motion failing at the meeting, the board continued with new business.

Various students and teachers reported to the board on travel study trips they had recently taken. A group of third graders from Washington Elementary reported to the board on their trip to Pueblo to watch the play, The Wizard of Oz. Third grade teacher Mrs. Miller thanked the board for sending the students to Pueblo to see the play. She said they had a great time and it was a good reward for doing well on CSAPs.

Board member Tim Wheaton said that after seeing the CSAP scores, they “did deserve it.”

Mr. Gittings and a few of his fifth grade students who went on a historical field trip to the state capital, reported to the board about the trip.

The fifth grade students spoke about seeing the legislative process. They also went to a planetarium, and watched a video about black holes. Another student talked about learning some of the history of the capital building and seeing how laws were made.

A fifth grade class from Parkview Elementary spoke to the board about a trip they took to Denver. The students watched an Imax movie and learned about Europe and the Alps. They also visited a museum in Denver.

Ginger Cromwell of Lamar High School and her student Ali Godinez met with the board and thanked them for the trip her students were recently allowed take to Denver for a literary contest. One of her students, Ali Godinez took second place in the contest. Cromwellasked the board about allowing her and some students to go to Lakewood to accept the literary awards.

LHS art teacher John Gersick and student Nancy Delgado met with the board about a recent trip to Santa Fe New. Mex., for the LHS art club. The art club visited various libraries, museums and took a lot of pictures, said Delgado.

Delgado spoke of many of the stops at Santa Fe, saying it was “beautiful.” She thanked the board for being able to go on the trip.

Mark Coulter from Sodexho Food Service gave his report to the board for April. He informed the board that he has taken another position with a different company and he was thanked by the board for his years of service.

The board approved the renewal of multi-peril insurance with the Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The board also approved a minor revision to Board Policy GCBD, Professional Staff Fringe Benefits.

Various student travel study trips were approved by the board as presented.

It was approved to set the June board meetings at June 9 for a work session and June 16 for the regular board meeting.

The school board approved the contracts for the 2008-09 academic year for non-probationary teachers as presented. The contracts for the 2008-09 academic year for probationary teachers were also approved as presented. The board accepted the resignation of Shawn Simpson as the LHS Industrial Arts Teacher. The board also approved the assurance of employment for classified employees as presented. Schwartz voted no, all others voted yes.

The board approved the hiring of Christopher Medina as LHS Social Studies teacher for the 08-09 school year. The board also approved the hiring of Aaron Howard as LMS Math Interventionist for the 08-09 school year.